Children as language learners

1. Children learning
English
Children as language learners

2. Learning by the errors.
Errors: sign of active language.
Children learn how the language
system operates.

3. ● Children learning a second language at school will have:
*Experience of language or life
*Abilities to learn English.
● Abilities and characteristics that teachers need:
Contexts for learning English.
Children as language learners.
How teachers´ beliefs about learning affect their teaching.
Ways of observing children's language learning.

4. Contexts for learning English
The ideal situation to learn a second language is:
● to live in the country where the language is spoken.
● to be surrounded by the language.
● to acquire the language using it every day.
Different conditions Time
Exposure
A real need for English
Variety of input
Meaningful input

5. Children as language learners
Natural abilities and characteristics children have.
Children learn a foreign language:
● in a natural way.
● through being motivated.
● by listening and repeating.
● by imitating the teacher.
● by doing and interacting with each other.
● though translating sentences into their own language.

6. Pupils´abilities in learning a foreign
language.
● Using language creatively.
● Going for meaning.
● Using “chunks” of language.
● Having fun.
● Joining in the actiong
● Talking their heads off.
● Feeling at home.

7. How teachers´ beliefs about
learning affect their
teaching.
Lesson organizations reflect
teachers´ belief.

8. Teacher A Teacher B
To understand the meaning of new
language.
To understand the meaning of new
language.
Repetition in order to learn. Variety of activities.
Controlling language to reduce mistakes. Enjoyable and stimulating activities.
Used the language learned. Using language more freely to
communicate.
The teacher provides the main source of
language input.
Pupils benefit from practising together
independently of the teacher.
DIFFERENCES

9. SIMILARITIES
● Pupils need plenty of practice.
● Pupils need to understand the
meaning of what they are learning.
● Focusing formally on the rules of
grammar would not be appropriate for
children.

10. Ways of observing children´s language
learning.
Teachers need to be
aware of the beliefs that
influence them.
Learning from pupils to create
teachers´ beliefs and to develop
ideas about teaching and learning.
● Keep a diary.
● Tape record children's pair or group
interaction.